American authorities are investigating the collision of two single-engine planes that killed the pilot of one plane. Media reports quote people who saw the accident.
The accident occurred Sunday afternoon. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a single-engine Nanchang CJ-6 and a single-engine Yak-52 collided in midair in Lancaster, California. The pilots were the only people on board at the time of the accident. The pilot who died was identified by authorities as a man in his 50s. The pilot of the other plane reported no injuries.
Emergency services at the scene of a crash in LancasterENEX
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The planes collided in mid-air
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the cause of the crash. It is not yet clear whether the two planes were flying together. CBS News quoted Stephan Wilson, who was near the crash site when the plane with the pilot who died crashed. The witness said he “heard a disturbing pop” and then saw the plane go down. “I ran over to see if he was OK,” Wilson said. He added that there was nothing he could do except call 911.
NBC Los Angeles quoted city resident Tammy Peterson, who was sitting in a parked car in Lancaster with her granddaughter when she saw the plane go down. “All of a sudden we heard a bang,” the woman said, noting that she initially thought it was a motorcycle.
One of the planes that crashed in LancasterENEX
Emergency services at the scene of a crash in LancasterENEX
CBS News, NBC Los Angeles
Main image source: ENEX